Oxford Street Now Pedestrian‑Only Between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street

The British capital has turned almost a kilometre of Oxford Street into a pedestrian‑only zone, banning cars, buses, taxis, bicycles and e‑scooters between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street.

Shoppers embraced the traffic‑free road as buses were rerouted. Mayor Sadiq Khan visited local retailers to promote the changes, which aim to make the street safer and more welcoming for the Christmas period.

Black‑cab drivers caution that the restrictions could make access harder for disabled passengers.

Paris pedestrianised much of Rue de Rivoli in 2020, attracting more than 20,000 cyclists daily and reducing nitrogen‑dioxide levels. Critics, however, note that congestion has shifted to surrounding streets.

Brussels closed 800 metres of Boulevard Anspach to traffic in 2015. Some retailers initially reported sales falling by up to 20%. Over time, though, 85% of them supported the scheme despite implementation challenges.

Oxford Street now faces the familiar challenge of attracting more pedestrians while keeping shops accessible and ensuring surrounding traffic continues to flow.

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